‘It’s a shame, he’s a positive player with a really good goals-per-minute record for this club.’

Main has endured a frustrating time since joining in July from Doncaster for an undisclosed fee.

Initially behind the rest of his team-mates in terms of fitness, the ex-Middlesbrough soon caught up.

He scored on his full Pompey debut in the 3-2 EFL Cup defeat at Coventry in August.

His first League Two goals arrived in a 3-0 victory over Crawley, yet the following match required stitches following a clash of heads against Wycombe.

Main then netted twice against Reading under-23s in the Checkatrade Trophy.

However, a substitute appearance against Notts County on October 22 represents his most recent outing.

Cook added: ‘We can’t do anything, we can’t pick someone who isn’t fit, it’s tough on anybody when they get an injury in any squad.

‘You have to feel for the kid. At the end of the day, no-one wants to be out for 13 weeks, not playing for a club like this where you can become a firm fans’ favourite by scoring the goals everyone wants.

‘People are working hard to get him fit – and Curtis is giving everything, too.’

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